By Fran Molloy
Grant Hilton is a changed man. The former stressed-out businessman is now at peace with himself. At just 38, he has been on a journey of selfdiscovery many don´t achieve in a lifetime.
In his quest to share his new-found spiritual awareness with others, Grant Hilton and wife Naomi have opened a $5 million eco-resort for other stressed executives in a patch of remnant rainforest in the Gold Coast hinterland.
The Universal Peace Centre Spa Retreat is a 22-hectare property near the tiny heritagelisted village of Uki, not far from Murwillumbah on the NSW – QLD border and just 50 km from Coolangatta airport.
It´s not designed for those on a budget; a series of upcoming six-day getaways are priced at $4,950.
To be fair, that price includes everything – food, spa, yoga, mediation, luxury swimming pools, float tanks and bushwalks.
Despite the high prices and the swish surroundings, for most high-fliers the retreat will be a boot camp; there´s no wi-fi, no phones, no television, no mobile coverage. There´s no alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs, no loud music or wild partying.
The menu is strictly vegetarian, with a detox theme, and daily activities include yoga, meditation and ‘breath work´ classes.
Hilton says that most celebrities and executives are under huge amounts of pressure and don´t get much joy out of life; he believes they will find it if they can embrace simplicity – something that has changed his life.
On the face of it, Grant Hilton had it all. He had made his first million in advertising by the age of 25, and went on to become a successful property developer. He retired a multi-millionaire at just 32.
But he was miserable. "I had everything; the dream wife, a Mercedes convertible, two storey boat, a two-storey mansion in the richest housing estate in Australia – but no happiness."
Hilton´s wife Naomi organised for him to go to a 10 day Vipassana meditation retreat where participants reflect on their life in total silence.
Vipassana is an ancient meditation practice revived in 1969 by a Burmese teacher, S N Goenka, and now offered throughout the world.
The course had a profound effect on Hilton. "I´ve been on a spiritual journey ever since," he says. He spent the next five years trying to find out why he had been so miserable – and how to turn his life around.
"From a young age I always believed I could create whatever I wanted on this planet," he explains. "All I had to do was work for it and believe it would come about." As a young boy, Hilton had adored his businessman father who was often away working overseas. By the age of 10, Hilton was spending his school holidays at his dad´s office, learning the ropes.
Just 17 when his father died, Hilton says that he went "off the rails," drinking and partying until he had no money left.
Waking up one morning after sleeping on a beach, penniless, he realised that he needed to change, and within six years had forged a very successful advertising career, followed by property development.
He now believes that his motivation for success was wrong – and that´s why he had been so unhappy.
"I always worked for me and no one else, never for the benefit of others," he explains. "This left me empty at the end of every project instead of having the feeling of a great accomplishment."
He says that it wasn´t until he came to the realisation that he didn´t have permanent ownership of all of his material possessions that he felt freedom.
"The universe owns everything. This understanding made it easy for me to let go of material possessions. This also made it easier to obtain material possessions, as things I would use while on this planet. Losing the attachment empowered my life."
